Author's Note:
Busy weekend ahead so I wanted to get this out for you all. It's Farm Show day for us (piggies and cows galore!) and tomorrow is soccer and my youngest's 2nd birthday party (Christmas Eve baby) so there's a lot going on. I didn't want this on the back burner because Lord knows when I'd get it out otherwise. I want to thank everyone who continues to read this story and to those who leave reviews! So until next time, have a wonderful weekend and God bless!

Chapter Sixteen

After hours of looking for clues at the airport and then picking Laura and Hannah up from the hospital, they all returned to the house that evening. BD went back to the station to deal with Jared while Hannah went home with a small contingent of agents to protect her, agreeing to come back the next morning. As much as Joe tried to keep his mother from going into the foyer, she was eventually able to get past him, stopping just before the puddle of blood that had yet to be cleaned up.

There were not many times that Laura Hardy was frantic but the moment she saw the blood, she broke down. If Joe had not been there to comfort her, she would have gone into full blown hysterics. Laura's eyes filled with tears as she placed a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs. Joe put his hand on her shoulder and she turned toward her youngest son. Laura leaned in and wept as Joe held her close, neither of them saying anything for a few minutes.

"I can't lose your father, Joe," she sobbed. "Or your brother. What if..."

"They're fine, Mom," he said firmly though he was having negative thoughts himself. "If either one of them was dead, we would have found them by now. Same thing with Nancy. They're alive. We just have to keep the faith."

"Mr. Hardy?" Joe turned to see an agent standing nervously in the doorway. "SAC Dearing would like to see you downstairs."

"Okay," he nodded then looked back at his mother. "Are you going to be okay if I leave you?"

"How about I go with you?" Laura sniffled, wiping her face. "Maybe it will help get my mind off of…of this."

"I think that would be good," Joe grinned. He held his elbow out and she took it with a small smile as the pair walked toward the basement.

When the mother and son arrived outside the door to the safe room, Agent Dearing greeted them with a grim expression.

"Mr. Hardy," he said gruffly. "Mrs. Hardy. Are you sure that there are no other places that Carson Drew could have hidden those files? We have searched the entire basement and the upstairs office but found nothing pertaining to those files or even David Wainwright."

"David Wainwright?" Laura asked surprised. She looked at her son then back to the agent. "Why would you need anything on him? He's Nancy's godfather and good man."

"You didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" She looked at Joe expectantly.

"I didn't get the chance to," he stated. "Mom, we think that David is the one who took Dad, Frank, and Nancy."

"What? That's not possible!"

"I'm afraid it is, Mrs. Hardy," Agent Dearing stepped in. "There's evidence to suggest that he was here and that he may have been the one who killed the intruders. Is there anything you can tell us about him that your son hasn't already stated?"

"What's there to tell?" Laura shrugged. "I barely know him, having only met him once but he was such a gentleman. Nancy was literally beside herself when he appeared, said she hadn't seen him in over ten years. I'm not sure what I can tell you. The only person who really knows who he is is Nancy."

"Well, maybe you can help me then," he said gently. Dearing pulled out a grainy photo of a man who was looking directly at the camera that took the picture. Laura could tell the photo was taken just outside the master bedroom upstairs. She stared at it intently before her mouth dropped open in shock. Laura looked up at Dearing and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"Where did this come from?" Joe asked staring at the photo.

"When we were searching through some of the files on the computer," the agent explained, "there were several video files from earlier today. It showed everything that happened during the intrusion. This was the only moment that we got a clear shot of this one. The others acted like they didn't know about the cameras. He did."

"I need to see the feeds," Laura demanded, ignoring her son for the moment. "David broke into this house and took my husband and my son. I need to know the truth!"

"The truth, Mrs. Hardy?" Dearing sighed and shook his head. "I am not going to let you see anything right now. You are too emotional and even I had a hard time watching the feeds. I will say this though. David Wainwright arrived after the intruders were already in the house. If this is him in the photo then he killed the two intruders himself before taking your family. It was almost as if he were saving their lives especially your husband's. I'm not sure what to consider David Wainwright at the moment but I have a feeling that what you spoke of him earlier was true."

"He kidnapped them!" she screamed, her earlier assessment of the man forgotten. "What more evidence do you need? As far as I'm concerned, David Wainwright is just as guilty as the two people who broke in here! Fenton needed a doctor and David took him away from that. He could have been saved but no! Right now, the only hope I have of seeing any of them alive again is fleeting!"

"Mom…"

"No, Joe!" Laura shooed at him. "I want answers! No more comfort! I am not going to lose anyone else, do you hear me? So, Agent Dearing what plan, if any, do you have to make sure my family is returned, safe and unharmed?"

The SAC was dumbfounded at the woman's outburst. The other agents looked just as surprised as he did while Joe tried to hide from embarrassment. Still, Laura stood her ground, her arms folded in front of her as she glared at Dearing.

"I…I'm sorry, Mrs. Hardy," he finally replied. "I…I honestly don't know where to even start. If we had some sort of clue or even those files then maybe we would have a plan. All we have are the video feeds and the note that was left behind."

"What note?"

Dearing showed her the note and she scanned over it several times before handing it back. Laura thought for a moment as if something was nagging at her.

"Mom?" Joe asked, noticing the familiar look. "Do you see something we don't?"

"Actually, yes, Joe," she smiled broadly. "I do."

Beckoning to the two of them, Laura went upstairs. Dearing and Joe exchanged confused glances, wondering what she was thinking though they eventually followed her. She headed directly to the master bedroom on the second floor. When she got to the room, Laura scanned the area before her eyes stopped on the top of a dresser on the far side of the room. The agents who were working in the room stopped their tasks and watched as she picked up a small ceramic knickknack about the size of computer mouse and held it up for everyone to see.

"Okay, Mom," Joe shrugged. Laura handed it to him to examine it. The knickknack was a cat holding up its paw with a large smile on its face and Chinese letters painted around the body. "I don't get it. What does an old knickknack have to do with the note or David Wainwright?"

"When Carson went to China to grieve Kate, he bought this for Nancy," she explained. "He felt guilty for leaving his young daughter behind and when he saw this, Carson thought she might like it. Obviously she did or she wouldn't have kept it all these years. I remember seeing it in her room then when her and Frank remodeled this room, Nancy must have brought it over to be closer to her."

"But what is it?" Dearing asked.

"It's a maneki-neko," Laura smiled.

"A what-what?" Joe handed the ceramic cat back to her.

"A ma-ne-ki ne-ko," she repeated slowly. Both Dearing and Joe still looked bewildered and Laura sighed, slightly annoyed. "Otherwise known as a Chinese good luck cat. And sometimes…" She turned the little cat over in her hand until she found the right spot. She pushed a button and out popped a compartment. Laura made a little sound as she pulled out a flash drive and held it up. "Sometimes there are secrets that not even the greatest detectives could figure out. I believe, Agent Dearing, that this is what you are looking for."

Laura handed the flash drive to the agent. The man was flabbergasted. Even Joe was surprised at the discovery.

"Mom, how…how did you know about this?"

"I was there when Carson gave it to Nancy," she smiled secretively. "She stayed with us while he was gone since Hannah wasn't around yet. He even showed her the secret compartment but it's obvious that she didn't use it often or we wouldn't have found this. She probably forgot it was even there."

"You are so awesome, Mom!" Joe hugged her close.

"I know," Laura smiled smugly.

"Well, then," Dearing stated happily interrupting the mother and son, "let's get this bad boy downstairs and see what's on it."

Moments later the trio was back in the safe room, the screens in front of them ready to relay the files that were undoubtedly on the drive. The moment the flash drive finished loading a video popped up and Carson's face appeared.

"What the…?" Dearing growled.

"I'm glad someone finally found this," Carson began with a sad smile. "Whoever you are, you are about to find out my long-kept secret, one that not even my daughter knows about. If you're watching this, Nancy, I'm sorry. I should have never kept this from you but it was for your protection."

The Hardys and Dearing all watched in shock, their mouths open slightly at the revelations Carson Drew was about tell. The agents in the room all got quiet, each person intently waiting for what was coming.

"Years ago, I helped a friend during a rough time," Carson continued. "It was not one of my best moments but I personally did nothing wrong. David's company was about to go under but through no fault of his own other than greed. In the end, someone offered him a deal and he took it. The deal went against everything that we both held dear but David felt that it was the only way out. In exchange for saving his company, a board of directors was formed along with a criminal conglomerate that now spans the country. They did everything off the book aside from the technology company David founded. The board of directors became the real power behind the company.

"For years, I helped David pro bono so that no one would know I worked for him. I used a different name in order to protect my family from the monsters that David had brought into his life. I did his legitimate taxes and got him out of other bad deals. Unfortunately, I could not get him out of this one. The criminal element was too strong. He became a part of the syndicate that he so loathed. People feared him as well though he remained the good man that he always was.

"Throughout the time I was in and out of his company, I took measures to protect not just my family but David as well. He wanted out eventually but it cost him greatly. The Board found out about him wanting to leave and Rebecca and Julia were killed because of it. David and I both agreed that it was time for me to step back. Nancy was old enough to understand but I didn't want her to find out what I'd done or what David was a part of for fear that she would go after these people. Julia was one of her best friends and her death still haunts Nancy to this day. It was this thought that David and I agreed to move on the Board when the time was right. I made this video and attached it to the beginning of this flash drive just in case I wasn't there to help.

"Everything that you'll find on here is what was collected over the course of 20 years. Names, properties, murders, bookie listings, you name it, it's here. David is incriminated in this as well. He knew it after I told him that I was collecting the information but he knew the consequences of his actions when he allowed the Board to take over. He knows what he did wrong and wants to make amends.

"There are a lot of things that I regret over the years but this is one of the biggest that I have. I hate the fact that I helped keep everything on here a secret for as long as I did but I hope that this will help in getting these bastards put in jail.

"One more thing and this is most important: Trust David. He knows what he's doing. I know I'm not there to defend him if you're watching this but he's a good man and would never do any harm to Nancy or to anyone who was close to her. Trust in that."

The room was eerily quiet as the screen went blank and the files began to role onto the screen like the ending credits of a movie. Dearing moved quickly with the rest of the agents while Laura and Joe stood in silence, their hearts heavy. Joe thought about the last thing Carson said and it gave him hope that the rest of his family was okay. He just wondered how long it would be before the "Board," as Carson called it, came after them all.

Frank waited by Nancy's side well into the night. He knew she would be out for hours but he wasn't sure when she'd wake. Dr. Morris continually checked on her as did both David and his secretary, Bethany, whom Frank had taken a liking to. She was an older woman yet her loyalty to David was strong almost as if she had more than a platonic love for her boss. Frank was just thankful for them all. He just hoped that Nancy felt the same way once she was told the truth.

Nancy sighed loudly and Frank moved closer to her. Her blue eyes opened slowly. Staring at him.

"Hey," he said softly. "You okay?"

"Why?" Nancy whispered her eyes brimming with tears. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry, Nan." Frank looked at his hands ashamed. "I…I didn't want you to hurt yourself or the baby. It wasn't worth it."

"He lied, Frank!" she cried, sitting up on her elbow. "Can't you see that? He's lied to us and he's lying about Dad!"

"How do you know that?" he asked looking hurt. "Your dad knew how to keep secrets and I know that he probably would have liked to tell you about David in person but I think we need to trust him. What if what he says is true? What if someone really is after us just because of him? Your dad did nothing more than help a friend and you know it. Come on, Nancy. You've known David your whole like. Why would he lie to you now?"

Nancy was silent, staring at him. Tears rolled down her face as she thought. Frank was right and she knew it. Reluctantly she nodded. Frank helped her sit up and wrapped his arms around her bringing her close to him. Nancy calmed down listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat which was strong and steady.

When they parted, she noticed a band-aid covering a cotton ball on the crook of his elbow and gave him a quizzical look. Frank smiled softly.

"I was helping Dad," he explained. "He needed blood so I donated. Dr. Morris said that his color is returning and hopefully he'll be up soon. Maybe sometime tomorrow…or today, whatever day this is."

Nancy thought for a moment then looked at Frank again, confused. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Did…did something happen?"

"Nancy…" Frank sighed. He bit his lip then continued. "Dad was shot. If David wasn't there, he would have bled out before an ambulance would have even arrived. It's why I think we should trust him. If David meant any harm to us, he would have left Dad to die."

"Oh, Frank, I'm so sorry!" she cried apologetically. Nancy hugged him again, finally realizing why he trusted David and why he stopped her earlier. Frank had seen something that she didn't.

Someone cleared their throat and the couple turned to see David standing before them. He avoided eye contact as he wrung his hands before him. With Frank's help, Nancy slowly got off the couch and walked over to David. He flinched just before she put her arms around him. When she shifted to look at him closely, Nancy saw the black eye that was forming from where she punched him and felt guilty that she was the one who gave it to him.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Nancy," he said quietly finally looking up at her.

"It's me who should be apologizing," she stopped him. "I should have listened to you before acting out. All I want from you now is the truth."

"Okay," David said with more strength. He gestured toward the couch and when they were all settled, he explained everything. No detail was left out as he poured his heart out in front of them. "Carson wanted to tell you a long time ago but he knew that if he did, your curiosity would put you in danger. He didn't want you on the Board's radar and neither did I."

"But I could have helped gather information," Nancy protested. "Found people that needed to be found, anything to help! You wouldn't have needed to keep anything from me!"

"Nancy you don't understand who these people are," David said calmly looking directly in her eyes. "They killed Rebecca and Julia because of me. I wasn't about to let that happen to you. Your father knew what he was doing when he helped me. He took every precaution to make sure no one knew who he really was and that not only protected him, it protected you."

"What exactly did Carson do for you?" Frank asked.

"He did what my lawyer would do for me," he shrugged. "Filed taxes, issued statements, made sure I didn't make another deal like the one with the Board. Carson never did anything illegal either except maybe keeping everything secret from the authorities but that fell under client confidentiality. He would have been disbarred and I couldn't live with that. He was a good lawyer. Even after we parted ways, he didn't say a word. We agreed that when the right moment came along to tell the world, he would give me the information. Only thing is, I'm finally ready but I have no idea where the information he gathered actually is."

David looked from Nancy to Frank as if waiting for them to tell him they already knew. The couple exchanged confused glances then Nancy shook her head. David sighed and was about to say something when Bethany walked over to them, her heals clacking on the floor.

"What is it, Bethany?" he asked even though he didn't look at her. She was silent, looking nervously at Nancy and Frank. David noticed this and sighed again, turning around to face her. "Whatever is it, Bethany, you can say it in front of them. They know."

"Oh, okay," she stammered then cleared her throat. "Davis just came back. He said that we are clear. But Dr. Morris said we should wait until Mr. Hardy was a little better. Maybe tomorrow night, he said."

"Anything else?" he asked, arching his eyebrow. She nodded then motioned for him to follow her. He excused himself to Nancy and Frank and the two walked away deep in conversation.

"Do you get the feeling we're being kept in the dark about something?" Nancy asked watching her godfather disappear around a corner.

"All the time, Nan," Frank nodded. "All the time."

"Do you know exactly where we're at?"

"I've only been in the office with Dad and out here with you among a few other places," he answered pulled her close. "I have no idea exactly where we're at but it's definitely some sort of warehouse. We could be anywhere though but every time I get near a door, one of David's bodyguards is right there to stop me. David says we're not prisoners but I sure feel like one."

"Right." Nancy bit her lip, rubbing her belly absentmindedly. She didn't know what else to do so she leaned her head on Frank's shoulder and snuggled into his warmth. Sighing, Nancy looked up at him. "So, now what?"

"Well, I guess I could show you the places I know we can go," he shrugged. "Unless you want to get some more sleep. It is the middle of the night."

"I'm not tired," she stated, "but if the tour includes a bathroom and a kitchen, I'm all for it."

Frank laughed as he got up then helped her off the couch. "I think I can help with that."